What bothers me is why you chose to review Dragon Quest IX in your 'spare time' rather than the-more-relevant-title Strange Journey or even Devil Survivor, games that push the genre forward and not sitting-ducks , unevolving , rigid title like DQ franchise.

I think "more relevant" is a term you're just throwing around for fun, because whether you like it or not, DQ is a bigger deal. DQ release day is practically a holiday in Japan.

Clearly, the discussion isn't what's more relevant overall, it's about what is more *interesting* to you, which is quite different. Honestly, I'm with you in not being a big DQ fan. They stick with certain RPG traditions set in place back in the 80s and for the most part, the series doesn't evolve or try anything new. But again, that's a taste thing. I'm not a fan, but sales figures speak for themselves in this case.

As for a review, it's a question better asked of one of our import reviewers, who, again, do buy these games for themselves, so they're not going to go spend money and time on Game X if they'd rather play Game Y.

Edit: Also, the Bayonetta thing is a horrid comparison. Besides the fact I believe the Japanese version is already in English, you barely need an understanding of the language to play a Devil May Cry-style action game. An RPG is completely different - you can't always just feel your way through it if you don't know the language.

What bothers me is why you chose to review Dragon Quest IX in your 'spare time' rather than the-more-relevant-title Strange Journey or even Devil Survivor, games that push the genre forward and not sitting-ducks , unevolving , rigid title like DQ franchise.

Japanese RPGs are dying. And the only franchise that upholds it is Shin Megami Tensei. Persona 4 was the one of the highest RPGs reviewed on Electronic Gaming Monthly (it got A+ / A / A) , second only to Chrono Cross . Do you think DQ or even FF franchise can compete against the likes of Mass Effect or Elder's Scrolls or Fallout in Western ? NO. I would even go further and saying Persona 4 shouldn't shudder against the likes of GTA and Half-Life 2, because because it's that good.

What we need is to unite and support this franchise , and neglect the other JRPGs frachise, because SMT is JRPG only hope.

Why would we need to post a review on the Japanese version now when we have one for the English version? Keep in mind our site is written in English, and caters to an English-speaking readership, which for the most part, would be playing their games in a language they actually can read.

Man, if quality was the sole factor for sales we'd be seeing games like Deus Ex reign in as the supreme FPSes and MW2 selling notably less than MW1. Whether or not those games are better they don't hit the same wide demographic something like modern warfare does.